BEIJING — China said Friday that Chen Guangcheng can apply to study abroad in a possible step toward resolving a diplomatic standoff with the US over the blind activist, who said he felt increasingly isolated and in danger at a Beijing hospital.
Chen fled an abusive house arrest in his rural town and sought refuge at the US Embassy last week, but emerged under an agreement with Chinese authorities to guarantee his safety in another town.
But once out and escorted to a hospital for treatment of an injury, he had an apparent change of heart and appealed for US help to leave the country altogether, creating a diplomatic predicament while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese officials.
The two sides were discussing his case while he remained in the hospital under a police cordon.
“Chen Guangcheng is currently being treated in hospital, “ the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its Web site. “As a Chinese citizen, if he wants to study abroad he can go through the normal channels to the relevant departments and complete the formalities in accordance with the law like other Chinese citizens,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry statement was the most positive response so far from the Chinese side. It was in contrast to earlier comments from the ministry, which had demanded that the US apologize for giving Chen sanctuary at the embassy.
There was no immediate comment from Chen or the US.
The statement came shortly after Chen told The Associated Press that was concerned for his safety, and complained that American officials have been blocked from seeing him for two days and friends who have tried to visit have been beaten up.
“I can only tell you one thing. My situation right now is very dangerous,” Chen said, sounding anxious as he spoke by telephone from his hospital bed. “For two days, American officials who have wanted to come and see me have not been allowed in.”
Chen said he spoke to American officials by phone on Friday, twice, “but the calls keep getting cut off after two sentences.” A senior US official said US Embassy personnel also met Chen’s wife in person.
Chen’s high-profile pleas for sanctuary even included him calling in Thursday to a congressional hearing in Washington, in which he told lawmakers he wanted to meet Clinton. “I hope I can get more help from her,” Chen said.
Chen last week escaped his rural home where local officials had kept him under house arrest for years. He made it to the US Embassy, where he stayed for six days before the US and China reached a deal that would allow him to stay in China but in a new location, as he had requested. But hours after leaving the embassy Wednesday he said he and his family would not be safe unless they left the country. — AP
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